Luke Pomersbach admits to molesting US woman

New Delhi(IANS): Four days after an American woman alleged she was molested by Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach, playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the case took a new turn Monday with the cricketer telling the police that he inadvertently touched the victim as he was under the influence of alcohol, police sources said.

A police officer claimed that Pomersbach, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL, has confessed that he was under the influence of alcohol and inadvertently touched the victim.

According to the officer, the name of another IPL cricketer belonging to the RCB team K.P. Appanna has also cropped up in the case as he was found accompanying Pomersbach to the room of the victim.

“Appanna’s name came to light after he was seen in CCTV footage recovered from Maurya Sheraton hotel where the American woman was molested during a party,” said the officer.

Police spoke to Appanna, a leg spinner who plays for Karnataka in Ranji Trophy. But the cops have not formally questioned him yet, said the officer.

The officer informed that they were yet to ascertain whether Appanna entered the room where the victim was staying.

Pomersbach was arrested Friday after the victim Zohail Hamid alleged that he molested her and hit her fiance Sahil Peerzada when he objected to the cricketer’s behaviour. Peerzada was punched in his ear following which he had to undergo a surgery.

Zohail had alleged in her complaint to police Friday that five to six members of the IPL team had pressurised her to withdraw the case against Pomersbach.